In 1994, Starr was appointed Independent Counsel to investigate the death of Vince Foster and the Whitewater scandal; his 1997 report led subsequently to the attempted impeachment of President Bill Clinton on charges relating to his indecent affair with Monica Lewinsky. Because he was investigating a Democratic President, Starr was subjected to slanderous personal attacks by liberals.

While Ken Starr was Solicitor General, he allowed argument in the high-profile abortion-funding case of Rust v. Sullivan to be done by a junior associate in his office, John G. Roberts, who proceeded to go up against and defeat the leading liberal advocate, Laurence Tribe. Later Starr graciously commended Roberts on his nomination and confirmation as Chief Justice of the United States.